Grants Pass coasts past South Medford

The South Medford softball team took a little too long to find its offense on Tuesday.

The South Medford softball team took a little too long to find its offense on Tuesday.

The Panthers scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, but fell 12-5 to Grants Pass in Southern Oregon Hybrid action at South Medford High.

The Cavers, who piled up 12 hits, raced out to an 8-0 lead before South staged its comeback attempt. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Brittany Miller hit an RBI single before Becca Flora was hit by a pitch. Tia Garrett singled to load the bases and then Sara Gartlan smashed a two-run single. Hannah Smith's ensuing RBI single cut the deficit to four.

Grants Pass made the prospect of a rally more challenging after tacking on four runs to start the seventh.

"We closed the gap in the sixth and saw some life, but turned around gave the four runs right back to them," South Medford head coach Miranda Gillaspie-Smith said.

Sadie Zozaya finished 3-for-3 with two RBIs and Amy Robinson 2-for-5 with three RBIs, including a two-run triple in the sixth. Dalenna Bellum went 2-for-4 and Halee Rose 2-for-5 for the Cavers (3-7, 2-2 SOH).

Robinson earned the win after allowing eight hits and one walk and fanning six.

CRATER 4, SARATOGA 1 — At Saratoga, Calif., Paul Turner's two-run single capped a four-run fourth inning for Crater to even its record to 1-1 at the Crown Classic.

Nolan Bastendorff allowed seven hits and only one unearned run for the Comets (7-2), pitching out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the fourth to preserve the advantage. He finished with three strikeouts and two walks.

Ty Fox and Taylor Tibbets had one-out singles to start the surge and, after a double steal, Tyler Aplin plated Crater's first run with a single. Taylor Pardee was then hit by a pitch to load the bases and the Comets scored one run when Tanner Ryerson's grounder was booted by the shortstop. Turner followed with his two-run single.

In Monday's opener, Crater lost 8-7 in eight innings to Overfelt, Calif. The Comets next face San Benito (12-3) of Hollister, Calif., at 9 a.m. today.

HIDDEN VALLEY 4, DOUGLAS 1 — At Winston, Tyler Gulbransen pitched a two-hitter with 14 strikeouts and four walks and Jamie Schmidt went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, including a two-run double in the sixth inning, for Hidden Valley (6-2).